NCT03667573

Brief Summary

Older adults with compromised walking ability have higher rates of morbidity and mortality, more hospitalizations, poorer quality of life, and are less likely to remain independent in the community. It is known that age-related changes in brain and peripheral nerves contribute to loss of walking ability. However, there is a lack of research into how the aging spinal cord affects walking. In older adults, the spinal cord is less excitable, conducts signals more slowly, and is subject to neural noise. Intervening on age-related impairment of the spinal cord to improve walking ability is a very promising but untapped area of research.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
23

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2018

Typical duration for phase_1

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 6, 2018

Completed
6 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 12, 2018

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 17, 2018

Completed
2.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 18, 2021

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 18, 2021

Completed
1.9 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

July 28, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

September 13, 2023

Status Verified

August 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

2.7 years

First QC Date

September 6, 2018

Results QC Date

September 7, 2022

Last Update Submit

August 21, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

agingwalkingspinal cordelectrical stimulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Walking Speed Change From Baseline

    Fastest safe walking speed over the complex walking course (measured as changed between the baseline and follow-up sessions)

    Measured at session 2 (2 days after the baseline session)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Prefrontal fNIRS Change From Baseline

    Measured at session 2 (2 days after the baseline session)

Study Arms (4)

tsDCS Dosage A and textured insoles

EXPERIMENTAL

tsDCS dosage "A" and textured shoe insoles

Device: tsDCS Dosage (A)Other: textured shoe insoles

tsDCS Dosage B and textured insoles

EXPERIMENTAL

tsDCS dosage "B" and textured shoe insoles

Device: tsDCS Dosage (B)Other: textured shoe insoles

tsDCS Dosage A and smooth insoles

EXPERIMENTAL

tsDCS dosage "A" and smooth shoe insoles

Device: tsDCS Dosage (A)

tsDCS Dosage B and smooth insoles

EXPERIMENTAL

tsDCS dosage "B" and smooth shoe insoles

Device: tsDCS Dosage (B)

Interventions

mild electrical stimulation delivered to lumbosacral spinal cord

tsDCS Dosage A and smooth insolestsDCS Dosage A and textured insoles

mild electrical stimulation delivered to lumbosacral spinal cord

tsDCS Dosage B and smooth insolestsDCS Dosage B and textured insoles

textured shoe insoles

tsDCS Dosage A and textured insolestsDCS Dosage B and textured insoles

Eligibility Criteria

Age65 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsOlder Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Preferred 10m walking speed \< 1.0 m/s
  • Intact tactile sensation based on two-point discrimination
  • Willingness to be randomized to either intervention and to participate in all aspects of study assessment and intervention

You may not qualify if:

  • Diagnosed neurological disorder or injury of the central nervous system, or observation of symptoms consistent with such a condition
  • spinal cord injury
  • Alzheimer's
  • Parkinson's
  • stroke, etc.
  • Contraindications to non-invasive spinal stimulation including any prior spinal surgical procedure
  • Chronic lower back pain
  • Obesity, defined as Body Mass Index exceeding 30.
  • This is due to the potential influence of body fat on the amplitude of electrical current flow to the spinal cord.
  • Use of medications affecting the central nervous system including, but not limited to:
  • benzodiazepines
  • anti-cholinergic medication and GABAergic medication
  • Severe arthritis, such as awaiting joint replacement
  • Current cardiovascular, lung or renal disease
  • Diabetes
  • +13 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

Gainesville, Florida, 32608, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Clark DJ, Hawkins KA, Winesett SP, Cox BA, Pesquera S, Miles JW, Fuller DD, Fox EJ. Enhancing Locomotor Learning With Transcutaneous Spinal Electrical Stimulation and Somatosensory Augmentation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Mar 2;14:837467. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.837467. eCollection 2022.

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. David Clark
Organization
Malcom Randall VA Medical Center

Study Officials

  • David J. Clark, DSc

    North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Masking Details
Participants will be masked to the dosage of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS)
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Participants will be randomized to one of four different parallel groups
Sponsor Type
FED
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 6, 2018

First Posted

September 12, 2018

Study Start

December 17, 2018

Primary Completion

August 18, 2021

Study Completion

August 18, 2021

Last Updated

September 13, 2023

Results First Posted

July 28, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-08

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

A Limited Dataset will be created and shared pursuant to a Data Use Agreement appropriately limiting use of the dataset and prohibiting the recipient from identifying or re-identifying (or taking steps to identify or re-identify) any individual whose data are included in the dataset.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
Time Frame
The Limited Dataset will be available after the study is completed.

Locations